As the Trump administration works to send National Guard members to Memphis in a controversial effort to combat crime, officials across the state line in Mississippi are preparing for what they believe could be an overflow effect.
Thomas Tuggle, the sheriff in DeSoto County, told media members this week his department is prepared to take on criminals who might flee from Memphis when troops arrive. Tuggle has already begun to clear jail space, have deputies on alert, and place tow trucks on standby.
“I want to ensure every citizen of DeSoto County that your safety is our top priority. We are fully prepared to protect our community from any criminal activity that attempts to spill across our county line,” Tuggle said. “I have contacted the Mississippi Department of Corrections and requested that they remove all state prisoners from our jail. This will create additional space in our correctional facility.
“We are putting every resource on alert. Our deputies are ready, [and] our tow truck operators are prepared. If you come into DeSoto County to commit a crime, you will be arrested, your vehicle will be towed, and you will go to jail. Period.”
DeSoto County, sitting in the northwestern portion of the state, is directly across the state line from Memphis and has thousands of people who work in Memphis living in it.
The county’s district attorney, Matthew Barton, offered similar remarks – albeit in a more provoking tone – as Tuggle after President Donald Trump announced during a Friday interview on “Fox and Friends” that Memphis is the next city he will mobilize troops to. The Republican president has made similar moves in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
“Democrat policies have been disastrous for Memphis and the communities that border them. I’ve been saying for a long time that the people of Memphis deserve so much more. Instead, soft-on-crime policies and ‘catch-and-release’ have turned a once great city into a war zone,” Barton said in a statement.
“Despite all of this, DeSoto County law enforcement has led the charge against criminals pouring across our state line for years now – and we’ll keep taking their trash out. But let me be clear, my office welcomes President Trump’s deployment of National Guard to Memphis,” he continued. “…DeSoto County will not be next. We will not let Memphis’ mistakes destroy the strong communities, excellent schools, and attractive economy we have built here.”
The mayor of Olive Branch, the second-largest city in DeSoto County behind Southaven, has also ensured law enforcement divisions within the city’s lines are on standby for criminals who might cross into Mississippi upon the National Guard’s arrival.
“Criminals are like cockroaches,” Ken Adams told The DeSoto Times-Tribune. “When the light is shined on them, they scramble elsewhere. But our plan is to be ready for them.”
When does the National Guard arrive in Memphis?
President Trump signed a memorandum Monday officializing the mobilization of the National Guard to Memphis. He said troops would soon be deployed and be part of a special task force comprised of officials from various federal agencies, including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
Essentially, the move mirrors what Trump has done in Washington, D.C. – the White House recently touting stats that show more than 2,100 arrests from Aug. 7 through Sept. 8 that included gang members being locked up, guns taken off the streets, and homeless camps dismantled.
“This task force will be a replica of our extraordinarily successful efforts here,” Trump said, referencing Washington. “And you’ll see it’s a lot of the same thing.”
The memorandum does not specify when troops would arrive in Memphis, although it did say out-of-state help possibly will be available. This could include state police from Mississippi and Arkansas, and National Guard members from other states.
Republicans backing Trump on Memphis mobilization
Those representing Tennessee who are in favor of the National Guard coming into Memphis include Gov. Bill Lee, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, state Sen. Paul Rose, and state House Speaker Cameron Sexton, among other Republicans.
In Mississippi, U.S. Rep. Michael Guest said he believes the deployment of troops to Memphis will ultimately help the northern part of the state he represents.
“I support President Trump’s crackdown on crime in big cities across our nation. Washington, D.C., is a great example of how the National Guard is helping to clean up D.C. and making our nation’s capital safer for all who visit,” Guest said. “President Trump’s decision to send the National Guard to Memphis will not only make Memphis safer but will also have a positive impact on public safety in north Mississippi.”
Controversy surrounding the move
Some officials have argued Trump’s sending of the National Guard to Memphis not only pushes the limits of presidential power but also is an untimely one, with the Memphis Police Department recently reporting a 25-year low in overall crime.
After Trump’s Fox appearance, in which he said the Memphis mayor is “very happy” with the idea, Mayor Paul Young held a press conference saying the president didn’t reach out to him before the appearance on national TV. While Young is open to federal collaboration in tackling crime, the Democrat said the National Guard’s presence isn’t necessary but is staying optimistic about the administration’s decision.
“I want to be clear. I did not ask for the National Guard, and I don’t think it’s the way to drive down crime. However, that decision has been made,” Young said, noting his belief that the White House has “the authority” to bring in troops.
“As mayor of the city that I love, of Memphis, Tennessee, my commitment is to make sure that we work strategically to make sure that this happens in a way that truly benefits and strengthens our community,” he continued. “We’re going to continue to be laser-focused on what it takes to keep reducing crime in our city. We know the National Guard is coming, and my plan is to make sure…I’m able to work with this community, the governor, and federal government to ensure that the support provided supports the initiatives that we know work and not distract from our law enforcement efforts.”
Like Washington, crime was already ticking downward before Trump began to publicly mull deploying Guard members. Memphis police recently reported dips across every major crime category in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period in previous years. For homicides, specifically, the city hit a six-year low.
Still, Memphis has dealt with headline-grabbing violence in recent years. In 2023, the city set a record with more than 390 homicides. Rapper Young Dolph was fatally shot at a cookie shop in 2021, and school teacher Eliza Fletcher was kidnapped during an early-morning run in September 2022. Fletcher’s body was later found near a vacant duplex.
Other local Democrats representing the Memphis area have also voiced their dismay publicly over the deployment of the National Guard. The list includes Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and state Sens. London Lamar and Raumesh Akbari. Rep. Jesse Chism, who chairs the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators, said in a statement he is “very concerned” about the plan.
Will Jackson be next?
As Trump’s deployment plans continue to move south, many are wondering if Mississippi’s capital will be next on his list. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, a staunch supporter of Trump, said before plans for Memphis were announced that he believes Jackson has made enough progress combating crime in recent years that extraordinary federal involvement would not be necessary at this time.
Reeves, who allowed roughly 200 Mississippi troops to be deployed to Washington, D.C., addressed the matter in a Sept. 4 social media post. He referenced expanded capabilities and jurisdiction of the state-run Capitol Police Department, the creation of an inferior court system, a new mayor believed not to be soft on crime, and a slowing death toll as reasons he is not yet pushing a National Guard deployment to Jackson. However, he would not rule anything out.
“We no doubt have more work to do, but he has been encouraged by new Mayor (John) Horhn’s public commitment to help and be a positive partner – a stark contrast to his predecessor,” a spokesperson for Reeves said. “Governor Reeves has been clear that law and order is going to be maintained in Jackson and throughout the state. If he decided it takes National Guard to do that, he’s certainly not ruling it out.”
Jackson, which had a nation-leading 99.5 homicides per 100,000 people in 2021 and saw crime numbers hit record marks in most of former Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba’s eight years in office, has made a turnaround in a year’s time. Through seven months of 2025, police reported a 43% decrease in homicides compared to the same period last year. The city’s various law enforcement agencies – Capitol Police, Jackson Police, and Hinds County Sheriff’s Office – have also worked together to garner one of the better solvability rates for a city its size.
While Reeves teeters on Jackson being included on Trump’s National Guard list, city councilman Kenneth Stokes would like more answers before encouraging the specific type of federal intervention. The Democrat representing Ward 3 said Tuesday that he suggested years ago the National Guard be deployed to Jackson, but now would like to see more information on the impacts of such deployments and if crime levels remain low after an emergency period ends.
“I think that number one, the president needs to give us some data or more statistics from other places that show this is not lip service. Let’s show the people what they’re doing and how they’re going to reduce crime. Now, if they’re just doing it for a photo op, don’t do that,” Stokes said.
The longtime councilman added that he believes Trump will ultimately “bypass Jackson” in its National Guard deployments. However, he would like to see the White House revive more resources for law enforcement in the capital city, especially when it comes to police pay and stomping nonviolent crime like car burglaries and thefts.
“Do some of the things that Mayor Horhn is saying. Help us with some grants to bring on more police officers. What they did many years ago is they would pay our officers for three years, and then, the city of Jackson would have to pay to keep them on,” Stokes said. “I know murders are down, and Chief (Joseph) Wade reduced murders in half and everything else. But, you’ve got to have a city where you are safe. It matters not what neighborhood or zip code you live in; you deserve to feel safe in our city.”
While White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently went on a tangent and called Jackson a “de factor sanctuary city for criminals and illegal aliens” when trying to prove Democratic-run cities, even in red states, see a concentrated crime level, the president has not personally mentioned Jackson. Trump, instead, has said Chicago, Baltimore, and New Orleans are high on his list for the next places to send National Guard troops to.
Horhn said in a statement after Leavitt’s comments on Sept. 9 that he would answer a call from Trump to discuss how the feds can aid in combating crime in Jackson but did not say one way or another if he believes the National Guard should be part of a resource package.
“Jackson is committed to protecting the rights and privileges of every resident,” he said. “I look forward to hearing from President Trump on how he can support our city’s revitalization through federal resources.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
